Hi, I’m Erik
Human, MA, LPCC
TL;DR - Check out the bold copy below
My name is Erik Wardell (he/him) and I’m a male therapist in Carbondale, CO. After nearly a decade in a career that wasn’t for me, my heart told me it was time to get out. Following a period of in-depth soul-searching, I realized that I belong in a helping profession.
So, I decided to go back to school and complete a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. Today, I’m a Licensed Professional Counseling Candidate (LPCC) practicing under the supervision of Ashley Mauldin, MA, LPC, EMDR. More importantly, I’m a human, a healer, a guide, and an unshakable believer in you.
I believe that pain, struggles, and confusion are uncomfortable and inevitable aspects of the human experience. The good news is that we all have a choice about how we handle these givens. We can choose to dance with the discomfort and uncertainty. Or, we can let it ruin this little miracle we call life.
At the end of the day, it’s a decision each one of us gets to make. I’m here to help the people that want to learn how to dance with the pain, struggles, and confusion. Are you one of those people?
My Philosophy
I believe there’s a spark of inherent goodness and wholeness within all of us, including you. Perhaps you haven't felt it lately, but it's there. Deep down, you also possess an incredible wellspring of wisdom and the innate power to guide and heal yourself. These are your birthrights. They are patiently waiting to be rediscovered, embodied, and lived.
Because being a human in this day and age is messy and confusing, it’s easy to lose sight of our inherent gifts. As your counselor, I'm here to guide you in reconnecting with them.
Together, we can help you cultivate the insight, skills, and experiences you need to find the answers, healing, and guidance you seek for yourself and your life. Ultimately, my goal is to help you embrace your struggles, reconnect with your authentic self, and live the life you are meant to live as the person you want to be.
“I have known Erik for years and have seen his professionalism and therapy skills shine forward as a counselor. He has been able to help so many individuals and families overcome issues from depression to how to better communicate and meet the needs of a diverse family members.”
Professionally
When it comes to my therapeutic style, I will connect with you on a very human level with the utmost compassion for what you are going through. I will look at the totality of who you are. This means taking into account your history, culture, relationships, physiology, psychology, spirituality, sexuality, coping skills, trauma, and lifestyle. And, how they impact you and your struggles.
I’m not interested in merely alleviating the symptoms of your mental and emotional strife. I’m interested in helping you get to the heart of your struggles so you can address them at the root level.
There are few things in life I love as much as connecting and going deep with other curious humans. I especially enjoy working with teens, adults, dads, parents, and families.
I primarily practice using mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP). Additionally, I lean on Motivational Interviewing (MI), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and grief and loss counseling to help people get where they are going. When working with families, I like to use Family Systems Therapy and Strategic Family Therapy.
Personally
I have the best job in the world being a husband and father of two young children. I’m also a yoga practitioner, potter, gardener, meditator, outdoor enthusiast, athlete, and perpetually curious human. I love participating in and facilitating men’s work and have been through my share of struggles as an adolescent and young adult. I bring all of this lived experience into my work and take pride in my ability to have deep compassion for the struggles of others.
“Erik is an excellent, caring, compassionate therapist.”
Pricing & Logistics
When you choose to work with me, you can be certain that I will be deeply invested in helping you succeed in therapy as quickly as reasonable. I charge a rate of $160/hr for individual and family counseling. I also offer 90 minute sessions for $240 and 2 hour sessions for $320. I have needs-based sliding scale pricing available, please ask about it if you would benefit. I offer in person sessions at my office in Carbondale or telehealth via a HIPAA compliant platform called SimplePractice.
Major Influences
Biological: Gabor Mate, Bessel van der Kolk, Peter Levine, Stephen Porges
Psychological: C.G. Jung, Viktor Frankl, Irvin Yalom, Daniel Siegel, Lisa Miller, Bill Plotkin, Diana fosha
Social: John Bowlby, Mary Ainsworth, Brene Brown, Bruce Perry, Becky Kennedy, The Gottmans
Spiritual: Buddha, Patanjali, Jesus, Lao Tzu, Ram Dass, Father Richard Rohr, Jack Kornfield, Pema Chodron, Alan Watts, S.N. Goenka, Father Gregory Boyle
“Erik Wardell is extremely professional and brings a warm and positive vibe to his practice. He is very considerate and has high ethical standards. I would highly recommend his services to anyone looking for a skilled clinician who provides a safe outlet to process difficult emotions and work through various challenges.”